AP BIOLOGY SYLLABUS
Teacher: Mrs. Lori Zeoli
*Electronic Text REQUIRED : e-text subscription provided for Biology in Focus, AP Edition
*Lab Manual REQUIRED: AP Biology Lab Manual and Composition Book (provided by student)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Welcome! AP biology is a college level course for able and motivated students. The course
content follows the suggested outline for a typical college biology course. AP biology covers the main
biological principals and processes which include the following BIG IDEAS: 1)The process of evolution
drives the diversity and unity of life. 2) Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building
blocks to grow, to reproduce, and to maintain dynamic homeostasis. 3) Living systems store, retrieve,
transmit, and respond to information essential to life processes. 4) Biological systems interact, and
these systems and their interactions possess complex properties. These Big Ideas will be introduced in
Chapter 1 during the first week of school and as the class progresses, the themes will be more
specifically discussed. Understanding how and where each of the above themes are integrated
throughout the course will enable the student to be successful in this challenging course.
AP Biology aims to provide students with the conceptual framework and analytical skills
necessary to understand and asses the rapidly growing science of biology. This is a laboratory course in
which students will collect and analyze data, then write complete scientific lab reports. Labs are a very
important method of learning science as a process.
COMMITMENT
1. AP biology students need to understand and accept the fact that AP biology will make
unusually heavy demands on their time and energy. THIS IS A VERY FAST PACED, INTENSE
COURSE. Students report spending and average of 7-10 hours of study time outside of class
each week.
2. AP biology labs take at least 25% of the course hours. The lab times do not always conform to
a ringing school bell. Please understand that some labs will require the students to prep
between 7:30 to 8:00 am, continue unfinished labs at lunch, and sometimes stay after school
between 3:00 to 3:30 pm on the day of longer labs.
3. Responsible conduct is a must. I cannot get through all of the material and lab content if I have
to deal with problems. This is a college level class.
EVALUATION
1. Students can expect a major quiz weekly and a test every two to three weeks. The tests will
cover multiple chapters and each exam has both multiple choice and most importantly essay
questions.
2. Course grades are determined by total points a student earns on all assigned work, relative to
the total possible number of points. Only tests will be curved, regarding the point total of the
top student as the total possible. There are three main components to the course grade:
Components for Semester Grade:
25% Daily/Home Work: Chapter Outlines, Self-Quizzes, Worksheets, etc.
35% Lab Reports and Activities/Presentations/Etc.
40% Exams and Quizzes
3. The AP Exam does not have an effect on your course grade. The exam is based on a 1-5 point
scale and most colleges give credit for 3, 4, or 5. Although it is worthy to note that a few private
colleges will only give credit for 4 or 5. Keep in mind that even if you score high on the exam,
you may elect not to exempt introductory biology in college.
ADDITIONAL REQUIRED MATERIALS (students must provide)
In order to be prepared for this course, each student must have the following materials in
addition to the text and lab manual provided by NPA:
1. Three ring binder with notebook paper (preferable college-rule)
2. Lab book with graphing paper
3. Blue or black ink pens – all labs and essays must be written in ink.
*CONTENT TO BE COVERED MAY VARY BUT THE GENERAL OUTLINE IS BELOW*
UNIT 1 – The Chemistry of Life and Cell Activity
Overall Topics
Basic Chem,
Water, and
Organic
Compounds/
Macromolecules
Cells and Cellular
Membranes
Chapters
2-3
4-5
Detailed Concepts
 Structure of atoms, isotopes,
compounds
 Acids/Bases and Buffers
 Properties of Water
 Carbons role in molecular diversity
 Monomers, polymers, and rxn involved
in building/breaking
 Types of Cells: Prokaryotes and
Eukaryotes
 Cell Size, Surface area to Volume Ratio
 Structure and Function, Similarities and
Differences between 2 major types
 Types of Transport
 Cell communication, signal transduction
pathway
 Relate Specific Disease caused by
defective Signaling pathway
 Levels of cAMP regulate gene expression
Activities
Acid/Base/Buffer Lab
Using kits to build
macromolecules
Dietary Evaluation
Clay Models and Presentations,
Bioflix and Animations
Diffusion and Osmosis Lab (#4)
Lab Simulation for Cell
Communication
Construction paper models of Gprotein receptor
Research Drugs affecting
receptors
UNIT 2 – Regulation on Cellular Levels
Overall Topics
Metabolism
Chapters
6
Detailed Concepts
 Forms of Energy and ATP
 Enzymes and Activation NRG
 Special Proteins/Enzyme Regulation
 Factors affecting Enzyme Activity
Activities
Catalase Lab (#13)
Bioflix and Animations
Overall Topics
Cellular
Respiration and
Fermentation
Photosynthesis
Cell Cycle
Chapters
7
8
9
Detailed Concepts
 Free NRG, Catabolic vs. Anabolic,
 NRG Synthesis
 Cellular Respiration glycolysis, citric acid
cycle, e- transport chain
 Chemiosmosis
 Intro to how plants colonized land
 Photosyn. Mechanisms and Types of Rxn
 Compare/Contract Cell. Respir. to
Photosyn.
 Cell Cycle mechanism and control
 Chromosomes
 Cell Regulation and Cancer Cells
Activities
Cellular Respiration Lab (#6)
Fermentation in Yeast Lab
Bioflix and Animations
Photosynthesis Lab (#5)
Bioflix and Animations
Mitosis Cell Count Lab (#7)
Immortal Life of HeLa Cells
Unit 3 –Genetics and Genes to Protein
Overall Topics
Meiosis
Chapters
10
Mendelian
Genetics and
Chromosomal
Inheritance
11-12
Molecular Basis
of Inheritance
13
Gene Expression,
Genes to
Proteins and
Regulation of
Expression,
Stems Cells
14-16
Viruses and
Evolution of
Genomes
17-18
Detailed Concepts
 Sexual vs. Asexual reproduction and
Evolutionary Advantages
 Stages of Meiosis
 Genetic Variation in offspring,
mechanisms and impact of evolution
 Patterns of Inheritance
 Predicting genetic outcomes
 Chi Squared Data Tables
 Sex Linked genes
 Gene linkage and mapping
 Mutations
 DNA history of discovery, structure and
replication
 Mutations
 Genetic Engineering
 DNA technology (GMO), Recombinant
DNA, PCR, Gel Electrophoresis
 Analysis of Genomes
 Protein Synthesis, Transcription and
Translation
 RNA regulation, miRNA and siRNA,
methylation
 Bacteria and Operons
 Genetic Programming and Apoptosis
 Stem Cell Uses
 Viral Structure and Mutations
 Gene expression in bacteria
 Analysis of Genomes
 Comparing Genomic sequences in
relation to Evolution and Differential
Gene Expression
 Morphogens stimulate cell differentiation
 HOX gene (homeobox)
Activities
Meiosis Lab (#7)
Immortal Life of HeLa Cells
Sex Linked Fruit Fly Lab (#1)
Karyotyping Exercise
A Day in the Life: story, poem
song, etc to describe affliction
with gene disorder
DNA Models and extraction
DNA Crime Scene Lab (#9)
Paper Model of lac and tryp
operons
Diagrams to distinguish products
of embryonic vs adult stem cells
Transformation Lab (#8)
PBS/NOVA Video and Summary
Student Research and
Presentations
UNIT 4 – Evolutionary Biology
Overall Topics
Evolutionary
Biology
Chapters
19-20
Evolution of
Populations
21
Origin of Species
and Patterns of
Evolution
22-23
Early Life and
Diversification of
Prokaryotes and
Eukaryotes
24-25
Detailed Concepts
 Darwin’s Exploration and Theory of
descent with modification and natural
selection
 Evidence for evolution and Galapagos
islands and in medicine, Drug Resistance
 Homologies
 Phylogeny and systematics, Taxonomy
and classification, use of cladograms
(Tree of Life)
 Genetic Variation
 Evolutions of Populations
 Hardy-Weinberg law
 Examples of diversity and unity in
organisms
 Speciation and Origins of Species
 Prezygotic vs. Postzygotic barriers
 Environmental Influences
 Fossil Record and Extinctions
 Early conditions on Earth and origins of
life
 Evolution of diversity in prokaryotes and
eukaryotes
Activities
Artificial Selection Inquiry Lab
Weeks w/ Wisconsin Fast Plants
(#1)
News week article on Epigenetics
Comparing DNA Sequences Lab
(#3)
Population Genetics Lab using
Hardy Weinberg Law (#2)
Fossil Record Analysis
Bioflix and Animations
Bioflix and Animations
UNIT 5 –Animal Form and Function
Overall Topics
Animal Diversity,
Homeostasis and
Endocrine
Signaling
Reproduction,
Development,
and Nervous
System Signaling
Connections
Chapters
27, 32-35
36-39
Detailed Concepts
 Characteristics of body plans and systems
of Inverterates
 Homeostasis, Positive and Negative
Feedback
 Endotherms and ectotherms, metabolic
rate and body mass
 Digestive, Circulatory, Respiratory,
 FOCUS ON IMMUNE, ENDOCRINE
Diabetes, ADH, Graves’ Disease
(hyperthyroid)
Excretory/Osmoregulation
 Sexual vs. Asexual reproduction
 Hormone regulation of systems
 Neuron structure, control of signaling in
nervous system and action potential
 Sensory systems and evolution of brains
Activities
Ectotherm Regulation Lab
Dissections: Star fish, Nematoda,
Cnidarian, Cricket, Perch, Fetal
Pig
Blood Type Lab
Dissections: Star fish, Nematoda,
Cnidarian, Cricket, Perch, Fetal
Pig
UNIT 6 –Plant Form and Function
Overall Topics
Plant Structure,
Growth, and
Resource
Acquisition
Chapters
26, 28-29
Detailed Concepts
 How plants colonized land
 Evolution of Seed plants
 Structure, growth, development, and
function of different types of plants
 Nitrogen fixation, N-cycle
Activities
Transpiration Lab (#11)
Field notes and outdoor Flower
Dissections
Plant Growth under various
conditions lab
Reproduction of
Plants and
Responses to
Signals
30-31






Alternation of Generation
Angiosperm Reproduction
Transport in Vascular Plants
Plant Responses to Internal and External
stimuli (plant hormones)
Photoperiodism
Plant Defense
Field notes continued
Student Presentations on Plant
Responses
UNIT 7– Ecology
Overall Topics
Ecology
Chapters
39, 40-43
Detailed Concepts
 Sensory Inputs affecting behaviors
 Ecological Interactions, biotic vs abiotic,
Trophic levels
 Energy Dynamics, net vs. gross
productivity
 Terrestial/Aquatic Biomes descriptions
and plant/animal adaptations
 Changes in free NRG and results on
population size
 Behavior: hibernation, migration, taxis
and kinesis, circadian rythms
 Population Dynamics, growth and
regulations, density…Growth Model
dN/dt=rN
 Community Relationships and Ecosystems
 NRG levels, NRG flows, cycles
 Symbiosis and impact on Evolution
 Human Influences & Impacts
Activities
Succession Lab
Fruit Fly/pill bug Behavior Lab
(#12)
DO lab and Aquatic Primary
Productivity (#11)
Bioflix/Video Field Trips